Chief of state: President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos (since September 21, 1979)

Government type: transitional government, nominally a multiparty democracy with a strong presidential system

Independence: November 11, 1975 (from Portugal)

Capital: Luanda

Area: 480,000 sq miles, slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Languages: Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages

Religions: indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15% (1998 est.)

GDP: purchasing power parity - $10.1 billion (2000 est.)

Debt - external: $10.8 billion (2000 est.)